How to Rent Out Hunting Rights on Your Property
How to Rent Out Hunting Rights on Your Property
If you own forest or outfield land in Norway, you're probably sitting on a resource you're not fully using. Hunting rights have real value, and demand for hunting ground is higher than most landowners think. Every year, thousands of hunters go looking for new ground, and many are willing to pay well for access.
I've spoken with quite a few landowners over the years, and a recurring theme is that many of them have never considered renting out, simply because they don't know where to start. This guide walks you through the practicalities.
Why rent out?
The most obvious reason is money. Hunting lets can generate a solid supplementary income from land that would otherwise just sit there. But there are other good reasons too.
Active hunting contributes to sound wildlife management. Moose, red deer and roe deer need to be regulated to prevent crop damage and road accidents. Without hunting, populations can grow beyond what the terrain can support. By renting out the hunting rights you ensure your property is actively managed.
You also get people moving through the ground and keeping an eye on things. Hunters frequently report trespassing, littering or damage they come across along the way.
What can you earn?
Income varies considerably depending on what kind of hunting the property offers, the size of the ground, and where in the country you are.
Small game hunting. For ground with a good ptarmigan population, you can charge between NOK 200 and 800 per hunter per day. With ground that can accommodate two to four hunters over a season of three to four months, that adds up to several thousand kroner.
Roe deer hunting. Shooting rights for roe deer typically sell for NOK 1,500 to 5,000 per animal, depending on the area.
Red deer hunting. In good red deer country on the west coast and in Trøndelag, renting out red deer hunting can yield NOK 3,000 to 10,000 per shooting permit.
Moose hunting. This is where the really serious income lies. Renting out moose hunting can bring in anything from NOK 10,000 to 100,000 per season for a vald (management unit) with a good quota, depending on location, facilities and reputation. Ground in well-known moose areas with a cabin included can command the upper end of that range.
For most landowners we're talking about an annual income of between NOK 5,000 and 50,000, depending on the scale. That's money coming in from a resource that would otherwise lie idle.
The legal side
Viltloven (the Wildlife Act) governs hunting rights in Norway. A few things you should know:
Hunting rights belong to the landowner. Under viltloven §27, it is the landowner who holds the right to hunt and trap on their own property. This right can be leased out, but it cannot be permanently separated from the land.